Pyrolysis of date kernels using natural Jordanian Tripoli as a catalyst under different operational conditions

Abstract

In this study, the performance of natural Jordanian Tripoli as a catalyst in the pyrolysis of date kernels was investigated. Specifically, the impact of the pyrolysis temperature (450 °C, 500 °C, 550 °C, 600 °C and 650 °C), catalyst-to-feed (C/F) ratio- (0 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt% and 20 wt%) and heating rate (20 °C/min, 50 °C/min and 100 °C/min) on the yield and quality of the produced bio-oil is investigated. Results showed that bio-oil yield is enhanced at high pyrolysis temperatures and fast heating rates. Also, increasing the C/F ratio increased the gas yield and decreased the bio-oil yield. The highest and lowest char yields were 31.98 wt% and 25.36 wt% at 450 °C and 650 °C, respectively. The gas yield increased from 123.8 ml/g-feed to 214.6 ml/g-feed when the temperature was increased from 450 °C to 650 °C.Moreover, chemical composition was analyzed through solvent extraction method to identify the chemical families present in the produced bio-oil. Pyrolysis of date kernels by using Jordanian Tripoli as a catalyst reduced the organic acids and the undesired oxygenates in the bio-oil. Increasing the C/F ratio from 0 wt% to 20 wt% decreased the yield of levoglucosan from 23.0 wt% to 17.43 wt% and decreased the yield of organic acids from 12.1 wt% to 9 wt%. In addition, increasing the heating rate from 20 °C/min to 100 °C/min decreased the levoglucosan yield from 25.83 wt% to 22.01 wt% and increased the yield of organic acids from 6 wt% to 10.08 wt%.

Keywords

• Catalytic pyrolysis
• Bio-oil
• Natural minerals
• Tripoli
• Date kernel
• Jordan